The Marriage Bed by Claudia Dain

Author:Claudia Dain
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Night Shift Publishing
Published: 2011-04-12T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23

Dornei had more than one tub. Richard was soaking in it, Edmund attending him, when Isabel entered the chamber. He had sent for her, knowing he would be naked and covered in naught but water when she came to him. He did not understand his own motives. He did not want to look too deeply into his heart to find them.

He soaked, wanting to wash away the odor of Henley's presence in Dornei. And Adam's. Their arrival had opened wounds barely closed from last night's confession on the marriage bed. He knew only that Isabel was angry with him. She did not seek him out. She thought him in love with Bertrada. Yet she had stood with him as he faced Henley in the bailey He had not expected such from her, yet, knowing her as he did, he should have expected nothing less. Always she had stood by him and for him, when he had done nothing but endeavor to ignore her for most of their long years together at Malton. Even now, when she had every right to spurn him, she had come when he had beckoned. And now she stood within their chamber, her eyes flashing her anger and her rejection.

Would that he could ignore her anger.

"Edmund!" she said, targeting him for her outburst, ignoring Richard. For the moment. "What was in your mind that you would attack a guest of this house and without provocation? For no matter what Ulrich said to offend you in the bailey, I know he would not have prompted anything but a smile from the stoniest heart."

"Lady," Edmund said, his eyes beseeching, his hands clasped, "I did not think—"

"That has been well documented," she cut in. "by all within Dornei."

"Hold, Isabel," Richard said, pinning her with his dark eyes. "Leave off. The boy has answered for his deeds. All has been dealt with. Say no more to him. A boys' fight, nothing more."

Nothing more? When swords had been drawn and blood sought and eyes alight with battle lust? For such she had seen, even from her perch within this very room. But she was to say no more about it, when it concerned Edmund, whom she trusted as a brother, because the Lord of Dornei and Warefeld had commanded her silence? Richard's highhandedness was intolerable. But she would say no more, not now, when it would impair Richard's credibility with those he must command; in front of Edmund, she would say nothing. To Edmund, she would say nothing more about the fight; she could acknowledge that Richard had dealt well with the matter, if only in her heart. From her lips, he would hear nothing. Would that she never had to speak to him again.

Would that he would not lie about so languidly in his tub.

She had seen little on their conjugal night; the night had been dark and her eyes had been tight with tears. Now she could see all clearly.

He looked nothing like a monk.

His arms were chiseled with muscle, his thick veins prominent, even in repose.

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